Old Friends  
3944f   $65.00

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An 8 1/8" long, 1.7 T. oz., piece, this is likely a berry or large preserve serving spoon.

This has a rounded end, upturned, "Antique" handle that is engraved in an Aesthetic (Eastlake) design that places it circa 1880.

The plum-shaped bowl has a raised central vee in the base,a flanged rim, and is finished in a gold wash front and back sides. The interior is bright cut in a design consistent with the handle and has wriggle work bordering.

The backside is plain save for the word... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2400   $375.00

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preserve spoon with gilt shell bowl, length 9 1/8 inches, excellent original condition, weight 2.01 Troy ounces, retailed by Larmour & Co. of Baltimore.

Though admittedly my memory is not what it used to be, I can't recall ever having owned an item in this pattern. It is a wonderful naturalistic form which Krider executed with the highest quality. We believe that the original cat tail and butterfly model was executed in clay, cut to create the flat side, then folded over (see arrow in... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2399   $95.00

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length 6 1/8 inches, total Troy weight 5.53 ounces, lightly monogrammed "D", fine condition.

Old Friends  
3941f   This item is currently being auctioned

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Catherine Hollan in Philadelphia Silversmiths offers dates of 1876-87 for the firm of "McCarty & Hurlbert," the name imprinted on the backside of this 9 1/4" long, 2.4 T. oz., berry spoon, with antecedent firms tracing back to c. 1845.

It is also marked "Coin," which is late for this standard, as most manufacturers had converted to sterling by the 1870s.

It has an "Old English" handle with a tipt backside and a bright cut fine flower and leaf theme on the front.

The pointed end... Click for details

Old Friends  
3938f   $78.00

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This lengthy at 7 5/8" and robust at approximately 1.5 T. oz., solid silver master butter knife was made by New York's John Wendt, whose characteristic "Patent 925" (for sterling) and "Bailey & Co.," for the Philadelphia retailer appear on the blade.

The pattern is "Union," and is quite similar to "Gibney," designed by F.H. Gibney, later Whiting, with both it and "Union" issued in 1862.

The handle has a central leaf rosette and leaf tipped, oval end, all elements that are very much of its... Click for details

Old Friends  
3937f   This item is currently being auctioned

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An engraved design dating from the 1880s, Gorham's "Jac Rose" must have been an especially well-received pattern given that a considerable inventory has survived to the present time, although there are few examples in as fine condition as this piece.

The rose theme is presented on an "Old English," rounded end, handle with a bright finished, tipt back, and a satin matte finished front.

The detailed floral and leaf imagery shows to full advantage at the scale of this 8 1/2" long,... Click for details

Old Friends  
3933f   $285.00

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The prominent New York City firm of Wood & Hughes produced several "Medallion" patterns in the 1860s period when such classically inspired imagery was popular.

The portraiture on this 8 3/4" long, 2.5 T. oz., coin silver, berry shovel (often identified as a cracker scoop) is anecdotally referred to as the "Diana Medallion," as identified by D.A. Soeffing in his 1988 benchmark work on this category of silver. He describes this design as "particularly Grecian in its appearance."

The... Click for details

Old Friends  
3931f   $55.00

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Weighty at just over 1.0 T. oz., this 6 1/8" long youth fork is a quality example of Wallace's entry into the offerings of female nude subjects produced by various silver manufacturers at the beginning of the 20th century."

The portraiture is of a full-sized, semi-draped, figure with three putti surrounding her head. One of these is cupid like and is pointing a bow and arrow at her.

Additional detailing includes orchid or iris blossoms, leaves and other flowers, front and back sides, all... Click for details

Old Friends  
3929f   $58.00

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Norman Mack writes in Missouri's Silver Age, "Francis A. Beauvais and his silversmith brothers, Charles, Rene, and Augustus, were born into a family of artisans."

Their father, Gemini Beauvais, resettled in St. Louis from Montreal, Canada, before 1800, when the former place was yet a village, and the family became a presence in the burgeoning city as it grew vigorously through the 19th century.

Mack offers a lengthy entry on this family, offering particularly extensive detail about... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190716-01  

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This piece is not currently for sale, but if you can solve its mystery mark with a definitive (or at least very strong) attribution, I'll offer you your choice of either $10 off your next order, or a free coin silver spoon in good condition!

This pair of feather-edge sugar tongs are marked once inside the bow with a maker's mark that appears to be IVB conjoined, but could be MB or NB conjoined. Please click on the first photo to scroll through all the pictures. The tongs appear to be... Click for details

Old Friends  
3926f   This item is currently being auctioned

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This 6" long, 1.3 T. oz., pair of coin silver tongs trace to Baltimore with an approximate 1830 date.

This information can be inferred from the marks, which are singular to Baltimore, and appear in an unusual combination on this particular item.

They include two "10.15" (coin) silver designations, one in italics, and the "head of liberty," used in conjunction with Baltimore assay marks beginning in 1815.

An essay in Maryland Silver published by the Baltimore Museum of Art... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2398   Sold

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One by craftsman Alfred Wikstrom (has Stone Associates mark); the other by Charles W. Brown, length five inches, total Troy weight .94 oz. excellent condition, marked and monogrammed as shown.

A set of these same spoons graces the cover of Elenita Chickering's superb monograph about her Uncle, Mr. Stone.

Old Friends  
3924f   $75.00

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A large piece measuring 8 1/2" long and weighing 1.8 T. oz., this table serving spoon bears one of the earliest marks, a "bird surrounded by a wreath," that the William B. Durgin Company used on its flatware.

It is also stamped "M.F. Robinson" for the Springfield, Massachusetts jeweler with dates of operation 1860-99, and "Sterling."

A non-line pattern, its relatively plain style with a broad, fanned, handle end with bright cut diamond and bellflower components, suggests a date circa 1880.... Click for details

Old Friends  
3923f   $165.00

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Measuring 9 1/8" long with a 3 3/4" by 2" wide bowl, and weighing 1.8 T. oz., this item is variously identified as a berry, vegetable, or pudding spoon.

The pattern is Whiting's "Arabesque," which is rooted in Moorish design and was produced during the Renaissance Revival period of the 1870s. It features a standing griffin with widespread wings.

The bowl is plum shaped, with a central vee in the base and a lipped edge.

The interior is intricately engraved in a leafy rosette theme that... Click for details

Old Friends  
3922f   $65.00

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Likely dating 1855-1862, this sugar sifter measures 7" long and weighs 1.2 T. oz.

It was made and sold by Philadelphia's "Bailey & Co.," and is so marked, along with a "lion, S, shield" with additional "lion," pseudo hallmark that was used while George Sharp was the company's manufacturing manager 1852-c. 1862 (Catherine Hollan Philadelphia Silversmiths).

The "S" indicates sterling, while a like mark with a "U" indicates coin silver, with the former introduced in 1855 (Hollan).... Click for details

Old Friends  
3921f   This item is currently being auctioned

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This rendition of "Lily of the Valley" by Gorham is to be distinguished from the die struck pattern of the same circa 1870 date that features this flower and is also known as "No. 88," and certainly it is very far removed from the company's 1950 line called "Lily of the Valley."

An approach to silver flatware construction that was popular in the period, and one which showcases the artfulness of a given manufacturer, such items are assembled from a variety of components.

Made in a limited... Click for details